Edexcel F1 2014 January — Question 8

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleF1 (Further Pure Mathematics 1)
Year2014
SessionJanuary
TopicConic sections

8. The parabola \(C\) has equation \(y ^ { 2 } = 4 a x\), where \(a\) is a positive constant. The point \(P \left( a p ^ { 2 } , 2 a p \right)\) lies on the parabola \(C\).
  1. Show that an equation of the tangent to \(C\) at \(P\) is $$p y = x + a p ^ { 2 }$$ The tangent to \(C\) at the point \(P\) intersects the directrix of \(C\) at the point \(B\) and intersects the \(x\)-axis at the point \(D\). Given that the \(y\)-coordinate of \(B\) is \(\frac { 5 } { 6 } a\) and \(p > 0\),
  2. find, in terms of \(a\), the \(x\)-coordinate of \(D\). Given that \(O\) is the origin,
  3. find, in terms of \(a\), the area of the triangle \(O P D\), giving your answer in its simplest form.